21/11/96-WEB-PICKINGS: UN Press rel

Subject: 21/11/96-WEB-PICKINGS: UN Press release on 21 November 1996.
UN-PRESS RELEASE ON 21 NOVEMBER 1996.
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Full Texts of the following press release from United Nations
can be found on this URL - The Home page for United Nations.
http://www.un.org/
With best regards, U Ne Oo.
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>[21 Nov 1996] GA/SHC/3399 : UNITED STATES CITES WIDESPREAD
HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES BY SEVERAL COUNTRIES, IN CONTINUATION OF
THIRD COMMITTEE DEBATE </title>
<P>
Myanmar, China, Nigeria, Iraq, Among Countries Responding to
Allegations of Violations <P><P>
Despite good news on the human rights front over the last few years,
many countries based their authority not on popular consent but on coercion,
the representative of the United States told the Third Committee (Social,
Humanitarian and Cultural) this afternoon as it continued its discussion of
human rights issues. <P>
She said Burma was one example where the authorities had their own
version of reality. They claimed their opponents were inspired by outsiders,
when in fact the opposition was indigenous and deeply patriotic. Their
Constitutional Convention was a sham, and they claimed to be fighting illegal
narcotics, when the military had turned a blind eye to the production and
trafficking of drugs. <P>
The United States was concerned about actions in China that restrained
..............................
Several representatives criticized the increasing politicization of
human rights as a tool to interfere in the internal affairs of sovereign
States. The representative of Myanmar said countries with different cultural
and social backgrounds and levels of economic development had different human
rights priorities. No country or group of countries should seek to reshape
the world in their own image. The conclusion that there was no freedom of
thought, opinion and expression in Myanmar was a travesty. There had been
tremendous change and transformation in the country which was in turmoil eight
years ago. <P>
The representative of China said that the attacks by the United States
were unfounded. Before accusing others America should take a look in the
mirror. Serious human rights violations existed in the United States.
.......................................
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea said the ...........
Statements <P>
NICOS AGATHOCLEOUS (Cyprus) said it was the duty .............
.................................
RI SONG IL (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) said the
attempt to .................................................
</* BEGIN-MYANMAR */>
U PE THEIN TIN (Myanmar) said renewed interest in human rights would not
benefit mankind if it was not pursued with objectivity, impartiality and non-
selectivity. There should be respect for diversity, and the historical,
cultural, religious, social and economic backgrounds of nations. Countries
with different cultural and social backgrounds and levels of economic
development had different priorities with regard to human rights. No country
or group of countries should seek to reshape the world in their own image.
His Government was gravely concerned that smaller countries were singled out
for alleged violations of human rights while other countries, where human
rights abuses abound, were treated with sympathy and understanding. Such
unequal treatment was bound to undermine human rights. He said the conclusion
that there was essentially no freedom of thought, opinion and expression in
Myanmar was a travesty. There had been tremendous change and transformation
in the country, which was in turmoil eight years ago. Today, peace and
stability had been restored. With peace and stability and the adoption of a
market economy, the country's economy was on the rise. <P>
It was regrettable that in their clamour for human rights, the misguided
few in Myanmar and their ardent supporters abroad had chosen to ignore the
right of its people to development, he continued. It was demeaning for any
State, organization or individual to compel investors to stay away from
Myanmar, where the political process was essentially a matter for the people
to determine by themselves. No outsider should assume the right to comment in
any form on the working procedures of the ongoing National Convention. One
particular party had turned its back on the forum and was insisting on a
dialogue", a stand which was supported by some countries using pressure to
manipulate developments in Myanmar to their own liking. No country could
permit an individual or an organized group to jeopardize national
reconciliation, or condone acts that led to a breakdown of law and order. It
had become necessary to promulgate a law to ensure orderly and systematic
transfer of the responsibilities of the State, and the progress of the
National Convention. Whoever violated its provisions was liable to
imprisonment or fines. No one had been put behind bars merely for political
beliefs. Statements calling for the immediate and unconditional release of
all political prisoners and a dialogue with political parties and ethnic
groups were unacceptable to his Government. <P>
PAUL H. HOUANSOU (Benin) said the protection and promotion of human
rights required a certain economic and political atmosphere to exist.
..............................
MADELEINE K. ALBRIGHT (United States) said there was much good news. In
Guatemala, a strong new government had embarked on a campaign to combat
impunity, fight corruption, improve respect for human rights and negotiate an
end to the hemisphere's longest ongoing civil conflict. Around the world,
forward-looking nations were striving to implement the Platform for Action
adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing, 1995). During the
past two decades, the number of democratic nations had more than tripled. In
1996, more than 1 billion people had gone to the polls. Unfortunately, the
democratic trend was not universal. The authority of many governments
continued to rely not on popular consent but on coercion. <P>
Burma was one example, she said. The authorities in Myanmar had their
own version of reality. They claimed their opponents were inspired by
outsiders, when in fact the opposition was indigenous and deeply patriotic.
Their constitutional convention was a sham, fully controlled and orchestrated
by the Government. They claimed to be fighting illegal narcotics, when, in
fact, the military had turned a blind eye to the production and trafficking of
drugs. Accordingly, her government would urge the Assembly this year to
express its strong support for democracy and human rights in Burma. The
Assembly should call for a genuine democratic dialogue, for free assembly and
free speech, for the release of political prisoners and for an end to forced
re-locations, forced labour and forced porterage. <P>
</* END-MYANMAR */>
She said Iraq was another country where violations of human rights had
been widespread, consistent and gross. .......................
AHMED SNOUSSI (Morocco) said the international community was justly
..........................................
GHEORGHE CHIRILA (Romania) said it should be a matter of concern that
.....................................................
DJORDE KOCETKOV (Bosnia and Herzegovina) said that exactly one year ago
.......................
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